An important drama about the widest miscarriage of justice seen upon the British isles in recent memory. A story that demanded to be told, and has rightly enjoyed a huge cultural impact.
The fact it has proved to be such a cultural touchstone, beyond the fury-inspiring subject, is entirely a testament to the quality of the acting on display - from trusted old-hands like Toby Jones to previously under-utilised gems like Will Mellor, all of these real people are brought to heartbreaking, hard-to-watch reality. The show is nothing without them.
The writing, on the other hand - ugh. Just; when did this become the norm for ALL ITV drama? Everything spelt out in condescendingly broad strokes, and some scenes were so overwhelmingly (yet avoidably, with even a little imagination) cheesy & hackneyed, it sucked me straight out my suspended disbelief. How is this the same network who produced the seminal Cracker? And WHY are ALL of their dramas like this now? Where are they finding these writers? Is it nepotism? Is it laziness? Is it active pandering?
Sorry, that turned into a rant - great story, brilliantly performed. Badly written. Or maybe that's the point. I don't know.
That's all.
The fact it has proved to be such a cultural touchstone, beyond the fury-inspiring subject, is entirely a testament to the quality of the acting on display - from trusted old-hands like Toby Jones to previously under-utilised gems like Will Mellor, all of these real people are brought to heartbreaking, hard-to-watch reality. The show is nothing without them.
The writing, on the other hand - ugh. Just; when did this become the norm for ALL ITV drama? Everything spelt out in condescendingly broad strokes, and some scenes were so overwhelmingly (yet avoidably, with even a little imagination) cheesy & hackneyed, it sucked me straight out my suspended disbelief. How is this the same network who produced the seminal Cracker? And WHY are ALL of their dramas like this now? Where are they finding these writers? Is it nepotism? Is it laziness? Is it active pandering?
Sorry, that turned into a rant - great story, brilliantly performed. Badly written. Or maybe that's the point. I don't know.
That's all.